Where Are Jura Coffee Machines Made and Why Does Cup Rental Standards Matter?

Starbucks Japan launched a stainless steel cup rental service at ten stores in Tokyo. Customers scan a QR code on the cup's base with a mobile app to borrow it, keep it for up to three days, and get a discount on their drink. Returned cups are washed at high temperature and disinfected, and the company says there is no need to worry about lingering viruses or bacteria.

The program follows earlier attempts elsewhere. Starbucks tried a $1 deposit reusable cup in Seattle, London, Japan, and Singapore, refunded on return plus 10 stars, but the mandatory deposit turned some customers off. A later version let people wash cups themselves, yet many felt the environmental gain was limited. Washing coffee machines and reusable cup logistics remain the practical hurdle, and questions about where are jura coffee machines made reflect similar concerns about equipment standards.

Starbucks once rolled out a deposit-based reusable cup system in Korea, Seattle, London, and other places, but the results were less than ideal. Starbucks Japan was the first to change tack, launching a stainless steel cup rental service at ten stores in Tokyo. Customers scan a QR code with a mobile app to borrow a cup, return it within three days, and even enjoy a discount on their drink. After return, the cups are uniformly washed at high temperatures and disinfected, and the company stresses that there's no need to worry about lingering viruses or bacteria. Can this model truly advance environmental protection, and can it be replicated in other regions? This article will give you a detailed breakdown.

After that approach failed to catch on elsewhere, Starbucks tried another solution in Seattle in the US, London in the UK, Japan, and Singapore: customers pay a $1 deposit when buying a drink and receive a reusable cup. After finishing their drink, they return the cup to any store, get the deposit refunded, and earn 10 stars, which can be accumulated to redeem certain drinks or food items.

However, the mandatory deposit actually turned quite a few consumers against Starbucks. So Starbucks adjusted its strategy and introduced cup-washing machines—customers who paid the deposit could wash the cup themselves after drinking and take it with them, exchange it for a new one at any store once it wore out, or simply get the deposit back. But this round of environmental action didn't win many people over, as many felt the actual environmental impact was limited. Although the cups were made of eco-friendly PP (polypropylene), they still couldn't be recycled after collection, ultimately generating a fair amount of waste.

So Starbucks Japan was the first to tackle the material itself, launching a stainless steel cup rental service. Starbucks Japan said that many people buy Starbucks merchandise cups on impulse and rarely actually use them, still defaulting to disposable cups when ordering drinks to go. Given that, why not change the approach—don't buy, rent!

Ten Starbucks stores in the Tokyo area were the first to launch the stainless steel reusable cup rental service. Customers scan the QR code on the bottom of the cup with a mobile app to rent one. Since these are rental cups, the stainless steel cups don't have much in the way of fancy design or a Starbucks logo—only the cup brand is kept, giving them a clean, industrial look overall.

To encourage people to rent the stainless steel cups, Starbucks also offers an exclusive discount: buy a drink with a rented cup and get 21 yen off.

The rental period is three days, during which you can use the cup however you like. To return it, simply tap "return" in the mobile app, and the system will show the nearest store's return information based on your location; just hand the cup to a staff member at that store. After collection, Starbucks carries out uniform high-temperature washing and disinfection, assuring consumers there's no need to worry about lingering viruses or bacteria.

During the pandemic, Starbucks locations in several countries suspended the practice of filling personal cups to reduce the risk of virus transmission. So far, the feedback on Starbucks Japan's stainless steel cup rental program has been considerably better than when it introduced deposit-based reusable cups. As a result, Starbucks Japan plans to gradually expand the stainless steel cup rental service to other regions and believes more consumers will be willing to support this environmental initiative.

If this program were launched in Guangdong, chances are you'd see scenes of people "rinsing the cup" (giving it another go with hot water) even at Starbucks, haha～

Image: Internet

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.